Press Release

130 Teams, 800 Students In Destination ImagiNation March 17

March 15, 2001

The energy-packed, academically thrilling Denver Destination ImagiNation Competition is scheduled for Saturday, March 17, at George Washington High School
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Elementary, middle and high school students have been preparing their solutions to team challenges for months and will meet to present those solutions and also solve surprise Instant Challenges that will be presented to them at the competition.

The competition is divided into age/grade levels - Primary (K-2), Elementary (K-5), Middle (6-8) and Secondary (9-12). The Primary Level is non-competitive; all other levels are competitive.

There are 19 Primary teams and 111 competitive teams registered (about 800 students). There are five different challenges that the teams were able to choose from:

Mystery Loves Company - The team's challenge is to create a mystery story filled with suspense and intrigue. The team must flush out the facts, uncover the evidence, and perform a scientific investigation to solve their team-created mystery. They must also design and construct a communication device that will communicate important information over a distance.

Triplicity - The team's challenge is to create, build and test a three-part weight-bearing structure constructed from balsa wood, paper and glue. They must also design and build three separate travel containers for special cargo to take on a team created journey to a destination of the team's choosing.

Anonymously Yours - The team's challenge is to select a real work of art whose creator is "unknown" or "anonymous" and develop an original story about the artist and the work of art. They must research an actual culture other than their own where the work of art was most likely created. They must also create a technical element that uses only the technology available in the time and place where "anonymous" lived.

DInamic Improv - The team's challenge is to create an improvisational performance the day of the tournament. Team members have researched famous innovators, cultural performers and important world landmarks. Just prior to their 30-minute preparation time, they will randomly select one surprise scenario as well as one innovator, one cultural performer, and one landmark. During their prep time, they will combine those four ingredients with nine prop items listed in the Challenge description to create their presentation.

Incredible TechEffects - The team's challenge is to research and investigate the technology of special effects and create an original tale that incorporates four special effects. They must also create a technical device (character or prop) that responds to or reacts to these effects during the performance of the tale.

The first competition begins at Saturday at 7:30 a.m. and the last is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. The Awards Ceremony will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the gym.

The top three teams in each Challenge and level will be invited to compete at the Colorado Destination ImagiNation Competition at the University of Denver and South High School on April 28. The top two teams from that competition in each Challenge and level will represent the state at the Global Finals Competition at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville May 23-27.